Food Network created a firestorm of controversy this past week in insisting on airing a program featuring horsemeat and foie gras as "French cuisine". Both are produced through animal cruelty. The Food Network's program Top Chef Canada aired Monday, May 16. The program has angered both horse advocates and animal welfare groups across the globe.

Foie gras is diseased duck liver produced by force feeding ducks using a feeding tube thrust down their throats several times a day until they are too fat to even stand up. The liver becomes hugely swollen and the animals suffer terribly including lacerations of the throat, nerve damage, and difficulty breathing or even moving. They are also many times held in dark, filthy conditions while they endure this abuse.

It is well-established that horses are typically conscious when slaughtered and suffer incredible abuse even before they arrive at the slaughter house. It is an outdated, cruel process that should be banned. Also, horses are not raised as food animals and research shows horse meat is likely to contain drugs that are illegal in food animals. For more information - http://www.animallawcoalition.com/horse-slaughter/article/1791

Call on Food Network and President's choice to stop using horsemeat and foie gras on future programs.

This petition was delivered to:

president, GE CanadaElyse Allan

president, Shaw MediaPaul Robertson

publicistCathy Kurzbock

2 more decision makers...

producerProducer

Superstore/Loblaws/Presidents Choice Brands

Letter to

president, GE CanadaElyse Allan

president, Shaw MediaPaul Robertson

publicistCathy Kurzbock

producerProducer

Superstore/Loblaws/Presidents Choice Brands

I am disappointed that despite strong opposition, Food Network Canada chose to air a show on May 16, 2011 that featured horsemeat and foie gras, both of which are produced through animal cruelty.

Foie gras is diseased duck liver produced by force feeding ducks using a feeding tube thrust down their throats several times a day until they are too fat to even stand up. The liver becomes hugely swollen and the animals suffer terribly including lacerations of the throat, nerve damage, and difficulty breathing or even moving. They are also many times held in dark, filthy conditions while they endure this abuse.

It is well-established that horses are typically conscious during slaughter; it is a cruel process that should be banned. Horses also often suffer incredible abuse even before they arrive at slaughter. Horses are not raised as food animals and research shows their meat contains drugs that is hazardous to human health, drugs typically banned in food products.

I call on you who are involved with programming at Food Network to agree not to air any other programs in the future which use horsemeat or foie gras.